Abstract: Described herein is a process for manufacturing a part or a part pre-form, for example, a vehicle part or vehicle part pre-form, as well as articles of manufacture incorporating pre-stretched paint films and substrates such as extruded sheet. Also described herein is an apparatus useful for the process described, which process includes providing a paint film having a length as measured along a longitudinal axis of the paint film; continuously stretching the paint film in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions of the film over the length of the paint film to form a pre-stretched paint film; and applying the pre-stretched paint film to a thermoformable substrate to form a part or part pre-form.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for manufacturing a part or a part pre-form, for example, a vehicle part or vehicle part pre-form, as well as articles of manufacture incorporating pre-stretched paint films and substrates such as extruded sheet. Also described herein is an apparatus useful for the process described, which process includes providing a paint film having a length as measured along a longitudinal axis of the paint film; continuously stretching the paint film in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions of the film over the length of the paint film to form a pre-stretched paint film; and applying the pre-stretched paint film to a thermoformable substrate to form a part or part pre-form.